Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1887-10-26
BLACK HILLS.

There is no metropolitan daily in the
east giving the Black Hills country the
attention that the Sioux City Journal
is doing. Every few days that paper
contains an able and logical editorial on
this region. Following is one of the
many articles that have recently appeared
in the Journal:
There is a great future for the Black
Hills country and for the general molln--
tain region of which it is part. The
mineral resources of this region have not
been generally appreciated until within
comparatively recent period. Indeed,
even now there is In the country at large
only partial knowiede of the POSSIBLE
tiles Of that empire of the western noun
tains Many have been lead to believe
that the silver mines were about ex-
hausted and to discreait altogether the
later reports regarding other mineral re-
sources, such, for instances, as the tin
deposits.
Perhaps misapprehension of the real
situation wasnatural or inevitable under
the circumstances. The original rush
ten years ago and more into the Black
Hills country was made under conditions
which rendered it.impossible to develop
the mines of precious metals in their
fullest extent. lie condition of trans
portation was not supplied, as they are
now being supplied. The character of
the ores, SO far as precious metals are
concerned, was such as to require large
capital and elaborate mechanical appli-
ances for their proper reduction, which
cossld not be accomplished with the
crl,de methods OF the improvised camps
Of the early period. Nevertheless these
ores, in paying degrees of richness under
proper manipulation, do exist and are
now known to exist in inexhaustible
quantity, and they offer a tempting
prize to permanent and adequate efforts
Of enterprise for their development.
This has been abundantly proved as the
result Of thorough experience in those
instances where the requisite capital and
skill have been enlisted in the Black
Hills mines.
Blb while all this has been slowly
demonstrated by experience, there has
been supplied during the process other
facilities indispensable to a development
commensurate with the wonderful nat
ural resources of this region. Railroad
communication has within the past year
or two been rapidly extended toward
and into the Black Hills, and the next
few years will see practical completion
Of the means; of transportation. This
fact makes ayailible the results of ex--
perience slowly acquired, and will work
transformation in the development OF
the mines. Capital now has the basis
OF certainty on which to work Ger
tainty as to the vast measure Of IMMORAL
wealth and ais to all the details of
utilizing them, as well as the ultimate
profits. This is true now, or apprexi-
mately true, with regard not only to the
precious metals, but also to the deposits
Of tin, coal, and the scores Of other nah
ural treasures,
And already the situation is beginning
To assert itself notably. The powerful
companies now being organised in the
eastern states and in England to develop
tie tin deposits are only the first abid-
ing evidences OF movement much more
comprehensive. What is transpifing
with reference to the tin deposits IS
bound To happen with reference to the
whole circle Of the natural resources OF
tho Black Hills country, and, speaking
only Of the mineral stores, the day il not
very distant when It will thus become